Register to Vote : Register To Commit Haraam
The season has come yet again. Some Muslim organizations are trying to promote, convince and coax Muslims to cast their vote in the upcoming election under the guise of benefit. This action is most definitely and totally Haraam. Unfortunately it is passed b very easily due to the Ummah's confused understanding of Islam, specially in matter related to the laws of Islam governing political action. When pork is consumed or when zina is committed, the Muslims area quick to respond (as they should). However, when democracy is likened to Islam or when we are told to vote for 'our local congressman', there is a approval or at least confusion.
Since we have accepted Islam as our 'Deen'(Ideology; way of life) we have accepted to respect and obey Allah's commandments and prohibitions in all respect of our lives whether it be praying in the Masjid or election a person to take care of our affairs. That is, to use the Islamic yardstick of doing what pleases Allah 'halal' and abstaining from what displeases him 'haram' in al our actions. Thus, when it comes to casting votes, every Muslim has to know that Shari ruling related to it so that he/she can adopt it and act upon it.
Before we could understand whether voting is halal or haraam it is better to understand that concept of participating in the non Islamic system; in other words, does it mean should we just follow the traffic rules, pay taxes and abide by general governmental rules and regulations or should we also par take in the kufr voting system. Inshallah, in this article, we will try to understand the concept of participating in non Islamic system as a whole.
PARTICIPATION IN THE SYSTEM DEFINED:
The phrase "Participating in the system" is a broad term that could have several meanings. It could mean paying taxes, living in a non-Islamic society, holding a position in a non-Islamic government; in fact, if taken generally, it could mean thousands of different actions. This type of classification in itself is the cause of much confusion because this type of thinking is alien to Islam and to the Muslim mentality. Because Islam is a complete way of life that covers all aspects of life, then every action, every situation, and every issue must have a specific answer from Islam. Every action or issue has a specific Hukm Sharii (divine rule) that is derived through a very specific process. Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an: "It (the Qur'an) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of Allah's existing Books and a detailed explanation of everything..." [12:111]
The Muslims must look at every issue as unique with a specific Islamic ruling without lumping everything into a general clause such as "participating in the system." Many Muslims would justify such actions as seeking help from the Kuffar, holding a position in a non-Islamic government, or being a member of a non-Islamic party, on the notion that they are already paying taxes and subjected to non-Islamic constitutions and laws, and claim that all of these actions constitute participation in the system. Paying taxes or living under non-Islamic rules has nothing to do with holding a position in a non-Islamic government or seeking help from Kafir regimes. Each action is distinct, and each one must be addressed in its specific context with its own Islamic ruling. Although the term "Participating in the System," is a general term that could have several meanings, the Muslim Ummah perceives it as certain actions that involve changing the situation of the Muslim Ummah by using the existing political systems. Among these actions are:
� Voting
� Holding a position in a Non-Islamic government
� Being a member of a non-Islamic party or group
� Seeking help from Kufr nations or being political allies with them
� Establishing Islam by reforming the society or joining non-partisan efforts
Collectively, these actions are what are most commonly referred to as "participating in the system," and they have become almost holy among the Muslims as well as many of the Islamic groups and organizations. Such actions are not even the subject of discussion, as it is already concluded among many Muslims and Muslim groups that they are correct and Islamic. Moreover, they are seen as the only means of creating a change. Many Muslims would find it impossible to suggest an alternative to casting their votes, writing letters to the UN or their local Congressman, pushing a few "Islamists" into a parliament or government, or making alliances with Western nations, because, to them, even suggesting an alternative amounts to a cessation of all their activities. Those who even question these current trends are branded under many names & censored from the public opinion among the Ummah. If the Muslims wish to revive, they must change their attitudes, even if this amounts to admitting that, for all these years, they may have been fooled by the capitalist system when they thought that they were serving Islam by casting a vote or writing a letter to the president of the US.
VOTING: Letting our Voices Heard
Muslims are being herded towards Congress under the false pretext of benefit. We area told that a block of Muslims votes is essential for our 'interest' and that our survival is dependant on how we vote. Let us stop and examine what we are getting into. What does 'casting a vote' really mean? Webster's Dictionary defines the term 'vote' as 'a formal _expression of preference for a candidate for office for a proposed resolution of an issue." In other words voting is a process in which voters give a mandate or a power of attorney to a candidate to represent them in the resolution of a particular issue. The process by itself is halal. Classical Fiqh, books are full of proofs that it is halal to give somebody a power of attorney as long as the action he is being deputized in, is halal to begin with. So while voting in itself is halal, it becomes Haraam if it deputizes somebody to do a haram act.
The concept of voting is perhaps the most prominent feature of the Democratic societies of the world. Because of the influence of the West, the Muslims have also borrowed this idea. For many Muslims, putting their vote in the ballot box has come to symbolize a sense of accomplishment, regardless of whom they are voting for or whether the action of voting is allowed.
Before discussing the realities of the voting institution behind its glamour, one thing must be clear in the minds of the Muslims: Their only reference is the Halal and Haraam, or the Commands and Prohibitions of Allah (swt). From this principle stems a qai'da, or a principle, which states that, "Anything that leads to Haram itself becomes Haram, and anything that is required to achieve an obligation itself becomes an obligation." Allah (swt) stated clearly that it is forbidden for the Muslims to be under the authority of the Kuffar: "And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers." [4:141]
Furthermore, Allah (swt) has forbidden the Muslims to live under the rules of Kufr or any other rule than Islam: "Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for ruling to the Taghut (anything other than Islam) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Satan wishes to lead them far astray." [ 4:60] "And whosoever does not rule by what Allah (swt) has revealed, such are the Kafirun (disbelievers)." [5:44] "And so rule between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires..." [5:49] "The command (or the ruling) is for none but Allah." [12:40]
Taken collectively, these ayahs indicate that the Muslims can only live under the authority of Muslims and under the ruling of Islam, and that the Muslims are not allowed to be under the authority of the Kafirs or any Kufr system. Thus, anything that leads to such a position is categorically prohibited. Voting for a Kafir or for someone who is not going to implement the Islamic system will lead to a situation which Islam prohibits. Thus, this action of voting becomes prohibited. Someone might claim that the person being voted for would implement Islam once elected. Such a claim has no basis because the current systems in the world today are not Islamic and no system will move aside and allow another system to function. Because the systems of the world are Kufr, then anyone who participates in this system would have to confine himself to the system and participate in the implementation of Kufr. There is no reason to expect that the Kufr systems will step aside and allow any individual or a group of people to implement Islam comprehensively. To be more precise, the issue of �Punishment for Adultery ,� in Turkey could be an best example. Turkey is struggling to be become a member of European Union. However, when Turkish Government trying to pass a law punishing those who commit adultery, we could see fierce reaction from European Union to suspend such laws or any laws that�s are Islamic in order for Turkey to become key member of EU.
Even though voting in theory is supposed to give the people the right to elect their rulers, in reality the election process in the Western systems is but a mirage. It is well known that all the major political leaders, from the Presidents to the members of the various congresses and parliaments are backed by the wealthy capitalists who fund their campaigns. Furthermore, the election process is filled with loopholes that are easily manipulated by the ruling elite to make the entire voting institution work to their advantage rather than to the will of the people. For all that it may be worth in the eyes of the people, the ballot box is nothing but a waste of time. Some people would argue that, by voting, the people exercise their right of choosing their leaders, but the sore fact is that there is not much of a choice to begin with. Throughout the history of the Western nations, the policies of the major political parties, whether they were Federalists, Democrats, Republicans, Labor, or Conservative, have remained essentially the same. And in all the Democratic societies of the world, all the political parties, while giving the false impression that the people have a choice, are only various shades of the same system: The system of slavery of human beings to other human beings. By voting, many people, and unfortunately many Muslims, believe that they will be able to change the system, but the fact remains that no system is going to allow itself to be replaced from within. Those who worked to establish Communism in America eventually faced the Black lists and the McCarthy trials. In Algeria, when the Muslims received the majority of the people's votes through the election process, the system was immediate in its response to oust the Islamic party, and the Western nations began to discuss the "limits of Democracy."
The entire West claims that their rulers are voted in through elections, and this process reflects the will of the people. If such is the case, then why has it been, since the birth of Capitalism that the systems reflect only the will of the elite who hold most of the wealth and the resources. The same can be said of many Muslim countries, such as Pakistan, Egypt, and more recently Palestine, where the majority of the people are Muslims who want Islam but instead have to suffer from the oppression of non-Islamic systems. If voting truly reflected the will of the people, then these countries would be implementing Islam because the vast majority of the Muslims either want Islam or are actively working for its implementation. The voting institution and the concept of elections that is propagated by the West, while in theory is supposed to guarantee to the people that their rulers will reflect their political will, is nothing but a drug that is used to sedate the people with and give them a feeling of gratification whenever they cast their vote in the ballot box that they have exercised their rights or accomplished something.
Muhammad (saw) once said: Muslims cannot be fooled twice. Keeping this in mind, hoping that Muslims learn from Voting Crisis that occurred during year 2000 elections exposing the reality of the Voting. Former US President Jimmy Carter says how the elections where rigged "A fumbling attempt has been made recently to disqualify 22,000 African Americans (likely Democrats), but only 61 Hispanics (likely Republicans), as alleged felons." He also said that a repeat of the irregularities of the much-disputed 2000 election - which gave President George W Bush the narrowest of wins - "seems likely".
HOLDING A POSITION IN A KUFR GOVERNMENT:
It is a clear fact that the entire world, including the Muslim world, lives under Dar-ul-Kufr because every territory is subjected to the rules of Kufr and the security of every country rests in the hands of the Kafirs. Thus, anyone who holds a position in any government existing in the world today, whether in a Muslim country or non Muslim country, is an active member of a Kufr government. Many Muslims and Islamic groups would justify Muslims participating in Kufr governments with various arguments, spite of these arguments, it is clear that, in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, Allah (swt) prohibits the Muslim from being in a position to pass any ruling or judgment which is not based on Islam, even if that ruling or judgment is similar to Islam.\
Regarding the Congress in America and in the Democratic societies of the world, or any such institution which gives human beings the legislative power, such a position is categorically forbidden in Islam because Allah (swt) is the only sovereign in the sense that only He (swt) has the right to legislate laws: "And to Allah belongs the Ghaib (unseen) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him return all affairs (for decision)." [11:123] "The ruling is for none but Allah." [ 12:40] "The ruling rests only with Allah." [12:67] "They have no Wali (helper, protector, etc.) other than Him (Allah), and He makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule." [18:26] "His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And to Allah return all matters (for decision)." [ 57:5]
In addition, the act of ruling and judging must be based on Islam because Allah (swt) in many ayahs orders the Muslims to rule by Islam and forbids any other ruling: "And whosoever does not rule by what Allah has revealed, they are the Kafirun (Disbelievers)." [ 5:44] "And whosoever does not rule by what Allah has revealed, they are the Zalimun (Oppressors)." [5:45] "And whosoever does not rule by what Allah has revealed, they are the Fasiqun (Transgressors)." [5:47] "And so rule between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires..." [5:49] "Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for ruling to the Taghut while they have been ordered to reject them. But Satan wishes to lead them far astray. And when it is said to them, 'Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger,' you seen the hypocrites turn away from you with aversion." [ 4:60-61]
Even the act of implementing rules or passing judgments similar to Islam is forbidden, and the daleel for this prohibition comes in the following hadiths:
'Aisha narrates, "Allah's Messenger (saw) said, 'If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion, then that thing is rejected.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, No. 861)
In another hadith, 'Aisha narrates, "The Prophet (saw) said, 'Whoever performs a (good) deed which we have not ordered (anyone) to do (or is not in accord with Islam), then that deed will be rejected and will not be accepted.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.9, No.20)
For example, if a Muslim is in a position to prohibit Khamr (alcohol), but says that he is prohibiting this because Khamr is bad for the health, such a rule does not constitute an Islamic ruling. In Islam, only Allah (swt) has the right to command or prohibit things, and only He (swt) has the right either to provide reasons or not to give reasons for doing so. It is not up for we human being to decide based on his own reasoning what is good and evil because Allah (swt) clearly states that such an act is beyond the capacity of a human being: "Jihad is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, but you do not know."[ 2:216]"And if the truth had been in accordance with their desires, verily, the heavens and the earth, and whosoever is therein, would have been corrupted!" [ 23:71]
Furthermore, those who believe that they can change the system by being members of the Kufr governments are only fooling themselves. For one thing, they are contradicting the Sunnah of Allah (swt). The nature of creation is that Haqq (Truth, or Islam) and Batil (Falsehood) will be in a state of battle: "Nay, We hurl the Truth against the Falsehood, so it knocks out it brains, and behold, the Falsehood vanishes." [21:18]
There is no way to think that Kufr will simply fling its doors open and allow Islam to rule because Allah (swt) makes it clear that Islam did not come to coexist with Kufr but came to dominate over it: "They want to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths, but Allah will not allow except that His Light shall prevail even though the Kafirun (disbelievers) hate (it). It is He Who has sent His Messen�ger with guidance and the Deen of Truth (Islam) to make it superior over all deens (ways of life), even though the Mushrikun (disbelievers, polytheists) hate (it)." [TMQ 9:32-33] "They intend to put out the Light of Allah (Islam) with their mouths. But Allah will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate (it). He it is Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Deen of Truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all (other) deens, even though the Mushrikun hate (it)." [TMQ 61:8-9]
Because of this inherent conflict between Haqq and Batil, then it followed that another Sunnah of Allah (swt) was that every prophet and messenger was opposed by his people: "Indeed, We sent Messengers before you amongst the sects of old. And never came a Messenger to them but they did mock him." [TMQ 15:10-11] "And verily, they were about to frighten you so much as to drive you out from the land. But in that case they would not have stayed after you, except for a little while. (This was Our) Sunna with the Messengers We sent before you, and you (0 Muhammad), and you will not find any alteration in Our Sunna." [17:76-77] "And so We have appointed for every Prophet an enemy � devils among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion..." [ 6:112]
If the prophets and messengers, including Muhammed (saw), who were the best of human beings, were bitterly opposed, then there is no reason to think that the nature of creation and all these ayahs that talk of the battle between Truth and Falsehood will suddenly suspend themselves for the Muslims today to sit side by side with Kufr in a Kufr system and participate in the implementation of Kufr. If examined objectively, one will find that the integration of the Muslims into the Kufr political systems is exactly what the Kafirs want. Because Islam is a political creed as well as a spiritual creed, then such a spiritual-political combination makes the Islamic Aqeedah incapable of coexisting with any other system, idea, or way of life. The Kuffar acknowledge that they cannot eliminate the political mentality from the Muslims because such a political mentality is an inherent quality of their Aqeedah. They also realize that, if the Muslims adopt this political mentality and act upon it, then they will automatically reject all the current systems and constitutions of the world and start working for the full implementation of Islam.
To accommodate the political mentality of the Muslims and at the same time ensure that Islam will remain contained within the current world order, they allow the Muslims to participate in their political machinery. Thus, the presence of "Islamists" in the Muslim parliaments only gives a false impression because such individuals still are confined to the Kufr regimes and systems. These Islamists may be able to pass a law that allows women to wear the hijab in the schools and work places while the Kufr regime in Egypt continues to broadcast Western television and curriculum that cultures millions into the Western norms and values. Similarly, a Muslim senator in the United States may be able to pass a bill requiring the schools and work places to recognize the Eid as a national holiday, but the system will remain a Capitalistic system that exploits the people, the educational curriculum will continue to culture the people with Kufr, the economic systems will still be based on Riba and exploitation in America as well as around the globe, the international relations will be based on Capitalistic exploitation of nations and imperialism, the political system will be based on Democracy which gives human beings the right to legislate laws, and the social systems will still be based on the Western way of life that markets free sex, the subversion of women, drugs, and crime.
BEING A MEMBER OF A NON-ISLAMIC PARTY:
Allah (swt) orders the Muslims to establish a party amongst themselves: "Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to Khair (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma'ruf (what Islam allows and commands), and forbidding Al-Munkar (what Islam prohibits)." [3:104]
In this ayah, Allah (swt) states very clearly the conditions of this party. Such a party must be based on Islam, and must submit to Islam it its totality. Furthermore, because the party is based on Islam, then the sole basis of the party culture, the party's thoughts and concepts, the party's methods and techniques, and the means of affiliation amongst the party members, must be the Islamic Aqeedah and no other basis. Allah (swt) further elaborates these characteristics in the following ayah: "You (0 Muhammad) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Ruh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Verily, it is the Party of Allah that will be the successful." [58:22] The last ayah describes some of the characteristics of the members of the Party as those "Who believe in Allah and in the Last Day," those who are not opposed to Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw), and those who have faith. Allah (swt) mentions regarding those who believe in Allah and in the Last Day as well as those who oppose Allah (swt) and the Messenger (saw): "And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow, to abide therein, and that will be the great success. And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein, and he shall have a disgraceful torment." [4:13-14] Regarding the attribute of faith, Allah (swt) states the condition of faith clearly in the following ayah: "But no, by your Lord, they can have no real faith until they make you (Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission." [4:65]
A non-Islamic party has as its party basis a thought other than the Islamic Aqeedah, and Allah (swt) states clearly in the Qur'an: "The only Deen in the sight of Allah is Islam" [3:19] "And whoever seeks a Deen other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [3:85]
"Say you (0 Muhammad), 'This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me.'" [ 12:108]
Furthermore, the party that does not have Islam as its basis will not have the correct bond between the party members. Allah (swt) only recognizes one bond, which is the bond of Iman. The only bond that exists between the Muslims is the bond of Islam, as Allah (swt) states: "And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (The Qur'an),and be not divided amongst yourselves." [ 3:103]
Even the Prophets and Messengers were subjected to this rule. Allah (swt) mentions regarding the Prophet Nuh (as) and the Prophet Lut (as): "And Nuh called upon his Lord and said, 'O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true, and You are the Most Just of the judges.' He said, 'O Nuh! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge!'" [ 11:45-46] "They said, 'O Lut! Verily, we are the Messengers from your Lord! They shall not reach you! So travel with your family in a part of the night, and let not any of you look back, but your wife (will remain behind); verily, the punishment which will afflict them, will afflict her.'" [ 11:81]
In these ayahs, Allah (swt) makes it clear that the only bond is the bond of lman, and this bond supercedes even the blood relationships that exist between the members of the same family. Indeed, anything which comes before Allah and His Messenger is rejected as a basis for one's thoughts and actions, and such a criterion is as binding for the party which is based in Islam, because Allah (swt) states: "Say, 'If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred; the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and Jihad in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision. And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)."' [ 9:24]
In addition, Muhammad (saw) exemplified this Islamic bond by stating as the opening statement to the first written constitution in the history of Islam, "The Muslims are one Ummah, to the exclusion of all others." The uniqueness of the Muslims was not their place of origin or their tribal background because, from the onset, the Prophet (saw) contradicted this means of affiliation. When he received the revelation, the Prophet (saw) incorporated into his group a Black Abyssinian, a Persian, a Roman, and people from the Arabian Peninsula. This uniqueness was the Islamic Aqeedah, and upon embracing this Aqeedah, this fundamental thought became the sole basis of their affiliation towards one another.
Perhaps nothing did more harm to the Muslim Ummah implicitly than the existence of these non-Islamic parties. Towards the demise of the Islamic Khilafah, many parties emerged in order to change the situation of the Muslim Ummah. Many of these parties called for nationalism, patriotism, Communism, Capitalism, and a host of other foreign ideas. These parties did not understand that the Muslim Ummah's ideology is Islam, nor did they understand that Islam was deeply rooted in me culture, the sentiments, and the history of the Muslim world. Because these parties were based on ideas and concepts that were alien to Islam, then it was natural for them to come in direct conflict with the Muslim Ummah and to lead the Muslim Ummah even further away from reviving itself. Furthermore, many of these parties felt themselves privileged, and this class mentality caused them to look down upon the Ummah as well as resulted in class struggle within their own structures, not to mention the track record of betrayal, treason, deceit, and corruption that these organizations left behind. All of these factors succeeded only in creating among the Ummah an atmosphere of hatred and resentment towards politics, parties, or anything associated with such terms, which placed an even greater burden on the correct party in its path towards reviving the Ummah. Because politics is a part of Islam, and only a political party can change the Ummah's situation by reestablishing the Islamic system, then the gap that such parties created between them and the Ummah dampened the revival process. By continuing to take part in non-Islamic movements, such individuals only add to this process of widening the gap between the Muslim Ummah and politics, without which the Ummah cannot survive.
THE ADVOCATES OF PARTICIPATION:
Those who advocate participation in the system have many arguments to justify their positions. Such arguments take many shapes and forms, but they all center around a few major points:
The example of the Prophet Yusuf (as)
The concept of Maslahah (benefit/interest)
Regarding the example of the Prophet Yusuf (as), they claim that Yusuf participated in the Kufr system in Egypt during his time, and such an incident, to them, is a justification for Muslims to participate in the system. Such an argument is invalid for two reasons. First, in Islam, the previous prophets do not constitute a source of legislation, and the only valid Shariah is that which Muhammad (saw) received. It is a well-known fact that every prophet and messenger conveyed the same Tauhid, but the Shari'ah that was delivered to each one differed in its contents. When Allah (swt) revealed Islam, it cancelled all the other previous messages, and Allah (swt) states this fact clearly: "The only Deen in the sight of Allah is Islam" [3:19] "And whoever seeks a Deen other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [3:85]\
Umar ib al-Khattab narrates that when he brought to Allah's Messenger (saw) a copy of the Torah and said, "Allah's Messenger, this is a copy of the Torah." When Umar (ra) began to read it, Allah's Messenger got furious and said, "By Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad, even if Musa were to appear before you and you were to follow him, leaving me aside, you would certainly stray into error; for if Musa were alive and he found me, he would have definitely followed me (Miskhat al-Masabih)."
All of these ayahs and hadiths indicate that Islam is the only message that Allah (swt) accepts, and any other message is obsolete. What applied to the Prophet Yusuf (as) is no longer applicable; it is only what is mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and the Islamic text forbids the Muslims from being in any position to rule by Kufr.
Moreover, even the claim that Yusuf (as) participated in the Kufr system is incorrect because the ayahs indicate that Yusuf (as) was the ruler himself: "Thus did We give FULL AUTHORITY to Yusuf in the land, to take possession therein, as when or where he likes." [12:56] "Then when they entered unto him (Yusuf), they said, 'O RULER OF THE LAND! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable.'" [12:88]
For Yusuf to implement anything other than the message that he received from Allah (swt) completely contradicts the entire concept of prophethood. Even Yusuf himself claimed this, as the Qur'an says: "The rule (or the judgment) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him, that is the (true) straight Deen (way of life), but most men know not." [12:40]
From these ayahs, the argument of Yusuf has no basis. Regarding the concept of benefit, it must be clearly established in the minds of the Muslims that the basis for performing any action is the Ahkam Shar'iyah, or the speech of the Legislator that addresses the actions of human beings. The Ummah's only reference is Islam, and it is Islam that is the sole basis of the Ummah's thoughts and concepts, its criterion for judgment, its laws and regulations, and its culture. Allah (swt) clearly states that the Muslims have no choice in the matter but to obey His Commands and to submit to the Qur'an and the Sunnah: "It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error." [ 33:36] "
We today know that each capitalist nation interested in Muslim lands because of presence of vast natural resources (oil, diamonds, gold, silver, Uranium and etc). These capitalist nations ignite and fuel wars to gain their interest and pass laws, regardless of they are halal or haraam as long as they bring them benefit. Allah (swt) severely condemns those who follow their own desires, or resort to what they see as beneficial to them: "And recite (0 Muhammad) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayat, but he threw them away. So Satan followed him, and he became of those who went astray. And had We willed. We would surely have elevated him therewith, but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. So his description is the description of a dog: If you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, and if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out." [ 7:175-176] "Have you seen him who has taken as his Ilah (god) his own desire? Would you then be a protecting guide over him? Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path." [25:43-44]
The idea of taking Maslahah, or using benefit and interest as a basis, contradicts the entire basis of being a Muslim. The purpose of one accepting Islam is his realization that there exists a Creator and that, as a human being, because he is limited, he depends upon the Creator for systems and laws to organize human affairs, to answer the fundamental questions, and to provide solutions to human problems. The Muslim also realizes that he will be accountable before Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgment for his actions, and based upon whether he obeyed the laws of Allah or not, he will be rewarded or punished. Upon this basis, the Muslim submits to Islam, because he realizes that it is his only means of attaining the Pleasure of Allah and avoiding His Punishment, and because he realizes that anything from Allah (swt) is the correct solution. After attaining such a realization, for somebody to claim that the correct solution should be based on the interests of the human being would defeat the entire purpose of being a Muslim.
THE STANCE OF THE SEERAH:
When Muhammad (saw) began the Daw'ah from the moment he received the Qur'an, it was very clearly established that Islam was a message for all humanity. At the time when the number of Muslims did not exceed ten in number, Allah (swt) revealed in Surah Al-Qalam: "But this is nothing else than a dhikr (a reminder, a message, a warning) to all the Worlds." [68:52]
In addition, when Muhammad (saw) received the revelation, the angel Jibril (as) ordered Muhammad (saw) to recite the Shahadah, which every person is ordered to declare upon entering Islam: There is no Ilah but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. The word "Ilah" means "that which is worshipped," and, to the Arabs, who were most acquainted with the Arabic language, such a declaration meant that Allah was the Creator and Legislator from which all the laws and systems of the society must emanate from.
Muhammad (saw) understood that the Da'wah would involve a struggle between Islam and the Kufr societies. Ayahs after ayahs descended throughout his Da'wah attacking the political and ideological systems of the society, degrading its practices and systems, and even ridiculing the political authorities of Mecca using some of the vilest words known at the time. The Prophet (saw) attacked the aristocratic and money-conscious values of the society, as well as the economic practices prevailing in Mecca, with ayahs such as: "Woe to every slanderer and backbiter who has gathered wealth and counted it. He thinks that his wealth will make him last forever! Nay! He will be thrown into the Destroyer." [104:1-4] "Woe to Al-Mutaffifin, those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demand full measure, and when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due." [83:1-3]" "The mutual rivalry for piling up worldly things diverts you, until you visit the graves. Nay! You shall come to know." [102:1-3] "And that which you give in Usury (to others),in order that it may increase (your wealth by expecting to get a better one in return from other people's poverty) has no increase with Allah..." [30:39]
"So (0 Muhammad) obey not the deniers. They wish that you should compromise. And obey not everyone who swears much, and is considered worthless�a slanderer, going about with calumnies, hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful, cruel, and after all that Zaneem (Bastard; son of a whore). (He was so) because he had wealth and children." [68:8-16] From every angle, Muhammad (saw) attacked, cursed, and ridiculed the society around him. He (saw) did not leave any aspect or issue unscathed from his attack. Even when it came to the idols in Mecca, the most respected institution of the society at the time, Allah (swt) said: "Certainly! You (disbelievers) and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell! (Surely), you will enter it." [29:98]
These ayahs clearly indicate that Muhammad (saw) had no intention of participating within the system or cooperating with the political establishment in any way, but sought to dismantle it from its roots and replace the system altogether with the Islamic system.
Furthermore, it is known that Muhammad (saw) was given many offers to compromise or to come to a common ground between him and the society, which gave an open invitation for political participation. In one instance, narrated by Al-Tabarani, a delegation of the leaders of Quraysh, visited the Prophet (saw) in order to reach a compromise. They offered the Prophet (saw) enough money to make him the richest man in Mecca, and offered him any woman of his choosing, and lastly, they offered him a deal that they would worship Allah one year and Muhammad (saw) would worship their gods one year. Such an offer in today's currency amounted to far more than a few seats in Parliament or a few votes, but Muhammad (saw), in spite of the miserable situation he (saw) and his Companions faced, did the most impractical and unrealistic thing when he recited Allah's (swt) answer to their propositions: "Say: '0 you who disbelieve. I worship not that which you worship. Nor will you worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your Deen and to me my Deen.'" [TMQ 109:1-6]
In another well known incident, when his uncle Abu Talib was pressured from the Quraysh tribe to reconcile with the Prophet (saw), he responded with the famous statement, "0 my uncle, by Allah, if they put the moon in my right hand and the sun in my left hand on condition that I abandon this mission, I would not abandon it until Allah makes it victorious or until I perish." This statement eliminates any notion of partiality or compromise that the Prophet (saw) may have carried.
Even when his wife and uncle died, leaving him devoid of any material and moral support, and the Muslims faced the most bitter persecution and torture, Muhammad (saw) never yielded to the circumstances or succumbed to the realistic or the practical solution. During that time, the Muslims were desperate to acquire material support, but when the tribe of Banu Amir said that they wanted the leadership after Muhammad (saw) as a condition for their support, Muhammad (saw) flatly rejected their offer. He (saw) also rejected the offer of the tribe of Sheeban b. Thaalaba when they agreed to protect the Prophet (saw) against the Arabs but declined to offer any protection against the Persians.
In studying the Seerah, one finds that the Prophet (saw) did not engage in any type of political participation within the system. In spite of what the proponents of such activities may claim, there is no evidence in the entire Seerah to support their views.
CONCLUSION:
Because of the lack of information that exists regarding the establishment of Islam, the Muslim Ummah is suffering from a great deal of confusion, erroneous concepts, and faulty information that reflects in its distorted understanding of Islam. Since the establishment of the Islamic State in Medina, today's Muslim Ummah is the only generation which witnessed the absence of Islamic rule. During the existence of the Islamic State, the Muslims never thought that they would live in the absence of Islamic rule. As a result, the issue of how to establish Islam or bring Islam back into existence remained a closed subject since the time of the Sahabis and was never discussed among the scholars of the later generations. Most of the information that exists regarding this issue can only be found in recent works by Muslims who lived in this century. Because of this, the idea of establishing Islam has not yet seeped into the mentality of the Muslims. In addition to the low level of understanding that exists within the Muslim Ummah and the effects of the severe ideological campaign perpetuated by the West upon the Muslims, it is not surprising to see the Muslims in such disarray when working towards reestablishing the Deen of Islam.
The only way for the Muslims to salvage themselves out of this mess is to understand that, regardless of their situation, Islam is their only reference in all aspects of life, whether the issue is prayer or establishing the Islamic system, and to realize that, no matter how much they want to believe or pretend otherwise, Islam and Kufr are open enemies, and the Kuffar will stop at nothing to suppress Islam and the Muslims. Participating within the system contradicts the Islamic method because Islam came to dominate over Kufr not to coexist with it. In addition, it contradicts the Sunnah of Allah (swt) which states that Islam and Kufr are open enemies and the Kuffar are the open enemies of Islam. As such, the Muslims must reject such a notion and work towards establishing Islam based upon the true Islamic method, which is to make Islam victorious over all the world, and Allah (swt) states this objective clearly: "It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Deen of Truth (Islam) to make it superior over all deens (ways of life), even though the Mushrikun (disbelievers, polytheists) hate (it)." [9:33] "He .it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the Deen of Truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all other Deens, even though the Mushrikun hate (it)." [61:9]
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